“20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” By Jules Verne  

I was not sure what I was getting into when I started reading this book. I mainly was just bored, so I picked it up one day. I saw a kid in middle school reading it, and he looked super invested in it and I thought to myself, ‘man, I gotta read that book” and now four years later, here I am. The book was quite simply just great. It was imaginative, colorful and epic. It was everything an adventure book should be. The book is about a marine biologist named Pierre Aronnax, and his team member, Ned Land, who are on a quest to find a mysterious sea monster. While on this quest, they get thrown overboard and kidnapped by a man named Captain Nemo and board his submarine, Nautilus, that looks like a sea creature. Together, the three of them discover the nature and wonder of the sea. I can see why people have been so drawn to this book and why that kid in middle school was so invested in it. It is an incredible adventure to read and experience and overall, I felt it was delightful to read.  

I give this book a 4.5/5

“Women Who Dared” By Linda Skeers  

Since March is Women’s History Month, I wanted to read a book that would educate me more on women and their achievements. This book was incredibly informative. I learned so much about so many extraordinary women I have never even heard of before. These women are trailblazers we have never and probably will never learn about in history class. So, getting to read these accounts of these inspirational women was appreciated. The book tells the stories of over 50 women and their great accomplishments. Did you know there was a woman named Anna Olga Albertina Brown who was a great acrobat and who would lift a cannon ball attached to a leather strap with her teeth into the air and then, the cannon would be fired, flinging her back, all while the cannon is still in her jaw? Yeah, because I definitely didn’t either. That is just one of the amazing stories that is shared in this book. I recommend everyone reads it.  

I give this book a 5/5

“Because of Winn-Dixie” By Kate DiCamillo 

This book is about a girl named Opal who has just moved to Florida with her father, a preacher. One day, as she is at a local grocery store called Winn Dixie, she finds a dirty dog who belongs to no one. Before the dog catcher can come and get the dog, Opal claims him as her own and names him Winn Dixie.  We learn that Opal has challenges to deal with, like her absent mother who she desperately wants to know more about, or the fact that she struggles to find friends. Because of Winn Dixie, Opal learns the most important lessons in her life, and creates memories she will never forget. You know how one day you will start randomly craving food you haven’t eaten or thought about in years? That was what it was like when I decided to read this book. I had read it before in elementary school, and never really thought about it again. One day, suddenly, I got this random urge to read it again. I understand why. This book has a beautiful nostalgic tone to it, that will never let you forget it. It’s a spectacular, fun and meaningful story that makes you happy and sad and grateful.  

I give this book a 4.5/5